The name lasonby first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in Lazonby, in Cumberland, or in Lazenby, in Yorkshire. The place-name Lazenby and Lazonby have the same etymology. They are derived from the Old Scandinavian words leysingi, which meant "freed men," and by, which meant farm or enclosure. The place-name as a whole means "farm of the freed men." It is possible that the name is derived from the old Scandinavian personal name Leysingr. The Scandinavians have had a lasting impact on the north of England, thanks to the waves of pillage, invasion and colonization which started in the eighth and 9th centuries and ended in the 10th. There are many place-names in the north of England which have Norse and Scandinavian elements.

lasonby Early Origins

The surname lasonby was first found in Yorkshire at Lazenby (Lazonby), which dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Lesingebi [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) and was in "the land of the King in Yorkshire." Lazonby is a parish, in the union of Penrith in Cumberland on the west bank of the river Eden. A Roman road passes from north to south, and another intersects the parish in a direction towards Salkeld Gate. At Castle Rigg are the ruins of a moated building. There are also several cairns in the area. [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

lasonby Spelling Variations

lasonby Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name lasonby has appeared include Lazenby, Lazinby, Lasynbi, Laysynby, Lasinby and many more.

lasonby Early History

lasonby Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our lasonby research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1632 and 1701 are included under the topic Early lasonby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

lasonby Early Notables (pre 1700)

lasonby Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 22 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early lasonby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name lasonby arrived in North America very early: Thomas Lazenby, who arrived in Virginia in 1672; William Lazinby who arrived in Maryland in 1744; William Lazenby, a bonded passenger who came to America in 1772.

Bede, The Venerable. Historia Ecclesiatica Gentis Anglorum (The Ecclesiastical History Of the English People). Available through Internet Medieval Sourcebook the Fordham University Centre for Medieval Studies. Print.

Shaw, William A. Knights of England A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of all the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Knights Bachelors 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 080630443X).

The lasonby Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The lasonby Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.